When life is lifeing
Hi,
How are you this week? For me life has lifed, lifed, lifed, but that’s life and reality and when life is lifeing, it’s an opportunity to double down on gratitude, slow down and see the reflection of what life is pointing out so obviously and expand on the things that I love.
Chloe and I recorded two podcasts this week, the episode that was released on Tuesday was “Creative women in the arena”, we used the speech from Theodore Roosevelt - Man in the arena as a foundation.
We got to talking about the fight of being in the arena, and I bought softness into the conversation.
I spoke on the point that at some stage we were full of love for the thing we want to create and that as women “to fight” in an arena - meaning to show up and create the life we want our biggest power is to soften into the fight, be open, be open to receiving and be open to opportunity and experiences. Expand on the love that we have for the thing we are creating.
I am in two paid photography communities, one is centered around the business side of building a photography business and the other the art of photography. There was a question in the Facebook group of the business one asking “What is on your screen today?” I posted a picture of the podcast studio I was working in while editing the latest conversation between Chloe and I. There was a comment back to me saying, “I love how you try so many things in your business”.
This post it hangs off the bottom of my computer screen as a reminder everyday.
I have said it before - what I am trying to create probably looks like an absolute mess, but it’s with the post-it forever in my mind. To live by that; I have to try different things, new things, to see if I love it.
Scott taught me how to use the chain saw yesterday after another tree feel scraping the house ( no damage) and I thought it would be a skill I would like to learn, I actually did not love it at all. He coached me through chopping up most of the tree and I am grateful that he can still teach me new things. I am glad I have had a go and know that I do not like wielding a tool that chops things up and can cause serious harm, and that I find it much more therapeutic to be the laborer and move the chopped wood.
I love the podcast, I love the remote photo sessions, I love in person photo sessions, I love the business I am creating. I have not met any major goals yet and that is where the love comes in for me, experimenting, finding more things to love about what I am creating, going deeper into what I am creating, how I am creating it, and expanding on the things that I already know I love - photographing women, talking to women, brainstorming, celebrating and holding women accountable for their dreams, I love the time spent preparing for a shoot, I love the feeling after a shoot and immersing in the editing process. I love the process of creating the podcast, editing and releasing it to Spotify and You tube. I love writing this email each week. What I love most is that all of this is a reflection of me, and a place I can learn deeply about myself, how I can mentor myself, how I can do better (remembering it is me against me), how I can be softer. How do I reach the major goals I have by fighting for the love of what I am creating.
MY question to you as you read this:
What do you love?
What do you love enough to fight for?
Do you soften into the love or are you aggressive in it?
I am OBSESSED WITH remote photoshoots, they are such a creative experience, if you would like to book a Women over 40 portrait you can book your session here:
This is how I feel about motherhood photos.
As a photographer whose passion lies in capturing the essence of women—their stories, their beauty, their resilience—I feel the sentimental significance of motherhood photos, particularly those that weave together the lives and legacies of mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunties, sisters, and all the remarkable women who shape the fabric of families.
In the delicate interplay of smiles, in the tender embrace of generations, lies the heart and soul of familial bonds. These photographs are not snapshots frozen in time; they are windows into the rich tapestry of lives—the laughter, the tears, the milestones, and the mundane moments that define the women in the photos and where they come from.
Motherhood photos serve as a testament to the strength, resilience, and unwavering love that courses through the veins of each woman in the family tree. They are a celebration of culture, history, identity—the very essence of what it means to be a part of something greater .
But beyond their immediate purpose lies a deeper significance. These photographs, realistic in their portrayal of candid personalities and shared experiences, will eventually find their place in funeral galleries, serving as poignant reminders of the lives we have lived and the legacies we leave behind.
They will be looked upon with reverence and gratitude by future generations, who will glean insight into their own roots and identities from the faces and stories of those who came before. They will serve as a bridge between past and present, a testament to the enduring power of love and connection that transcends time and space.
So, stand alongside the women who have shaped your journey, to celebrate your shared heritage, and to leave behind a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come.
DO you have these photos already?
The session can be in person or virtual/ remote via an app ( I am obsessed with these). You will receive an online gallery, prints and a photo book - this isn’t optional, it is included in the price. I choose the photos for the prints I send you and I curate the photo book. The price is as low as I can financially make it because I want to photograph alllllllllllll the mothers. You can pay in full or payment plan.
1:1 Private Mentoring conversations
Listen to the stories you are telling yourself. Love or fear?
In these conversations we expand on the things you love, we acknowledge and talk about the fears and say “thanks but I am going to keep going”. Where focus goes energy flows, and for a woman in her own business we need to honor what we are creating; not despise it.
BOOK HERE - THIS LINK IS DEPOSIT ONLY
Thank you to everyone that engages with this email, I am grateful and it brings immense joy when I get to reply to you in a conversational way.
Have a beautiful week
Love
Melinda
PS
Have you listened to the latest podcast - Conversations from the Gap.